Washington Bills

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 2075: Increasing the cannabis excise tax on high THC cannabis products.

HB 2075 increases the state's cannabis excise tax on high-THC products to 50% of the selling price, up from 37% for lower-THC items. It directly affects retailers selling cannabis concentrates or useable cannabis with over 35% THC to general consumers (not medical patients, who remain exempt until 2029). The key mechanism sets tiered tax rates based on THC concentration, requires the tax to be itemized separately on receipts, and directs all revenue to a dedicated cannabis account. The bill also mandates the board to review tax levels and report on sales impacts, though it does not change medical cannabis exemptions.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1031: Mitigating the impact of rising school facility temperatures resulting from climate change.

HB 1031 requires Washington's superintendent of public instruction to develop indoor temperature standards for public schools by forming an advisory committee with health, environmental, school operations, and parent representatives by September 2025. The bill updates existing law to explicitly include "excessive heat" (defined using National Weather Service guidance) as a valid reason for school closures due to unsafe conditions, replacing vague prior language. It mandates the committee to balance temperature control with energy standards and report recommendations by January 2026, followed by cost estimates by July 2026. This directly affects all public school districts, teachers, and students in Washington by establishing a formal process to address climate-driven heat risks in school facilities.

Topics ✓ Education

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5573: Concerning electric security alarm systems.

SB 5573 establishes statewide safety standards for electric security alarm systems on industrial and commercial properties where local governments have no specific regulations. It requires systems to use ≤12V batteries, display "Warning: Electric Fence" signs every 30 feet, be 10 feet high (or 2 feet above barriers), include emergency deactivation for first responders, and be installed on designated outdoor storage properties (e.g., vehicle/equipment yards, excluding retail displays). The bill prohibits treating these systems as fences under general fence codes and allows local governments to maintain their own regulations or require operator permits. It specifically excludes traditional burglar and fire alarm systems from these requirements.

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5271: Requiring school districts of the first class to employ a school nurse.

SB 5271 requires Washington state school districts classified as "first class" to hire a school nurse. This applies specifically to larger school districts (as defined by state law) and mandates they employ either a registered nurse or an advanced registered nurse practitioner. The nurse must hold a valid educational staff associate certificate for school nurses. The law aims to protect student health by ensuring these districts have qualified nursing staff on-site. This replaces the previous option for such districts to "may employ" a nurse with a mandatory requirement.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5087: Establishing legal education programs at community and technical colleges.

SB 5087 requires Columbia Basin College, Yakima Valley College, and Walla Walla College to offer prelaw associate's degree programs if funding is approved. It also creates a program to financially support community colleges in eastern Washington (east of the Cascades) to establish new, American Bar Association-approved paralegal programs in regions without them, aiming for one program in central Washington and one in eastern Washington. The bill directly affects these colleges and students seeking legal education pathways in underserved areas. Funding availability is a key condition for both provisions. The legislation focuses on expanding accessible legal education opportunities through community colleges.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5810: Making 2025-2027 fiscal biennium operating appropriations and 2023-2025 fiscal biennium second supplemental operating appropriations.

SB 5810 is a budget bill allocating funds for Washington State's 2025-2027 fiscal biennium operations. It provides specific appropriations for state agencies, including $61.7 million for the House of Representatives and $46.3 million for the Senate in fiscal year 2026, along with $14.1 million for the Joint Legislative Audit Committee. The bill includes a provision requiring the audit committee to review juvenile rehabilitation programs, focusing on staffing, safety, programming, and gender equity, with a report due by July 2026. It directly affects state government operations and agencies funded through this legislation. This is a routine appropriations bill, not a policy change.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1776: Providing reimbursement of firearm background check fees.

HB 1776 requires the Washington State Patrol to reimburse firearm background check fees paid by purchasers or licensed dealers during November 2024, when the SAFE background check system was unavailable. It directly affects firearm buyers and dealers who paid fees during the system outage. The bill mandates the State Patrol to establish a reimbursement process using existing funds from the firearms background check account. This policy change provides financial relief for those impacted by the November 2024 system disruption.

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1067: Transferring certain cannabis licensing activities to the department of agriculture.

HB 1067 transfers the licensing and regulation of cannabis production, processing, and testing from Washington’s Liquor and Cannabis Board to the Department of Agriculture. This directly affects cannabis businesses (producers, processors, retailers) currently licensed under the Liquor and Cannabis Board, requiring them to interact with the Department of Agriculture for all licensing, compliance, and regulatory matters starting July 1, 2026. The bill mandates the transfer of all related documents, equipment, budgets, rules, and contracts to the Department of Agriculture by that date, with existing licenses and obligations remaining valid. It also updates legal references to reflect the agency change in relevant state laws.

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1708: Helping local governments provide information about the impacts of homelessness.

HB 1708 requires Washington cities and counties to use a new state-provided dashboard tool to publicly report specific data on homelessness efforts. The dashboard must display annual metrics including housing unit gaps (needed vs. permitted), spending on housing assistance, households served, addiction treatment access, crime rates near encampments, and encampment locations - especially near schools. The Department of Commerce will contract for the application, and the Municipal Research Center will compile the data for public posting on its website. This policy directly affects all local governments by mandating standardized reporting on homelessness programs, not by providing new funding or services.

Topics ✓ Housing

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1558: Concerning broadcasters.

HB 1558 imposes a 0.484% tax on the gross income of radio and television broadcasters operating in Washington State. It directly affects broadcasters by allowing them to exclude revenue from network, national, and regional advertising from their taxable income - either through a standard deduction based on U.S. census data or by itemizing out-of-state audience revenue using specific signal strength measurements. The bill defines "broadcasting" broadly to include delivery via wire, satellite, or other means, and clarifies that excluded revenue must be calculated using standardized signal contour thresholds for different broadcast types. This tax change modifies existing business tax rules for broadcasters but does not alter other tax categories covered under the same chapter.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 2065: Reducing administrative staffing at institutions of higher education.

HB 2065 requires Washington's public colleges and universities to reduce administrative staffing to 2008 levels by June 30, 2025, directly affecting all state institutions of higher education. The bill mandates each institution calculate reductions based on its 2008 administrative-to-student ratio, resulting in specific cuts (e.g., UW must reduce 2,381 administrative staff equivalents). This will lower state appropriations for fiscal year 2026 by millions of dollars (e.g., $17.6 million for UW), with anticipated tuition savings for students. The goal is to make higher education more affordable by aligning administrative costs with educational mission, without altering academic programs.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes ✗ Education ✗ Labor & Employment

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1749: Ensuring consideration of climate change, carbon sequestration, environmental health disparities, and treaty-protected and cultural resources in the state environmental policy act.

HB 1749 requires Washington state agencies to consider four new factors in environmental reviews: climate change impacts (including life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions), carbon sequestration in forests and soils, tribal treaty-protected resources and access, and pollution exposure in overburdened communities. For example, agencies must assess if a timber sale harms mature forest carbon storage or if a project disproportionately increases pollution in vulnerable neighborhoods. The bill mandates updates to the state environmental policy checklist to ensure these considerations are integrated into all project reviews, including timber sales and development permits. It directly affects state agencies like the Department of Natural Resources and local governments conducting environmental reviews.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

Bill results